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| MDC-T supporters chant slogans at a rally |
A story is told of a politician who was so out of his depth that at one rally he promised his party supporters that if elected into office, he would build a bridge to ease their transport woes. Instead of hearing the usual cheers and ululation he was accustomed to, the man was greeted with deafening silence.
Confused, he scanned the crowd in front of him and saw that the sinewy hand of one old timer was up, ‘‘But Mr MP,'' the old-timer asked, ‘‘we do not have any river in this constituency, infact in the entire district!''
Without batting an eyelid, the resourceful politician quipped, ‘‘No problem, we will dig a river for you then build the bridge!''
As with all jokes, this is the punchline that draws the guffaws and slaps on the back of the narrator. We are not told how the crowd received the perspiring politician's answer but its safe to assume that they either ran him out of the constituency like Habakkuk Musengezi's "Honourable MP Pfende", or simply punished him in the ballot box.
Well with next year's elections around the corner, one of the three main political parties, MDC-T is already on the campaign trail. Party leader Morgan Tsvangirai is touring the provinces either in his capacity as Prime Minister or MDC-T leader. He has been to almost all provinces, albeit talking more about President Mugabe's candidature than what he and his party have to offer the electorate.
As he sweats it out in the provinces, Tsvangirai ironically never misses an opportunity to claim that if Zanu-PF fields President Mugabe for the presidential poll, he (Tsvangirai) would not need to campaign but would simply go home and rest as victory will be assured.
‘‘I would leave him to campaign himself hoarse,'' Tsvangirai says. But judging by what Tsvangirai has been saying at his rallies and other public forums, he is better off leaving the campaign trail. He would probably retain votes by resting at home than exposing himself at every rally he holds.
Tsvangirai is proving to be the proverbial emperor who mistakenly thought he was strutting around in new finesse yet he was as naked as the day he entered the world.
Tsvangirai's gaffes prompted one reader to write to NewsDay (October 24, 2011) saying, ‘‘The contradictions of Morgan Tsvangirai's off-the-cuff utterances - especially at rallies - are legendary. The few intelligent and consistent pronouncements he has made were in the speeches prepared for him by his officials. Perhaps these officials should even rehearse his rally speeches with him, just like the American officials did with Ronald Reagan . . .''
A friend of mine, in the Diaspora had this to say on the same subject: ‘‘While Zanu-PF talks about land reform, indigenisation and economic empowerment, inputs support for farmers etc, MDC-T is busy talking about: homosexuality, legalising prostitution, opposing empowerment, reversing land reform, curtailing male libido, nude diplomats etc. And then they turn around & claim elections are rigged!"
Let those with ears hear.
For instance, this past week Tsvangirai was the talk of the town after publicly embracing homosexuality when he appeared on BBC's Newsnight programme where he called for the inclusion of gay rights in the envisaged new constitution.
"It (homosexuality) is a very controversial subject in my part of the world. My attitude is that I hope the constitution will come out with freedom of sexual orientation, for as long as it does not interfere with anybody," he told Newsnight's Gavin Esler.
Our Prime Minister needs to be reminded that a right ceases to be a right once it infringes on the rights of others. Homosexuality is illegal in Zimbabwe since the constitution, just like nature, does not provide for same sex unions. Homosexuals are not being hunted down or killed here as is done in other countries. Neither are lesbians being "treated" through rape as we read has been happening in South Africa.
Sexual deviants are free here. They have their Gays and Lesbians Association of Zimbabwe, whose offices are in Belvedere. They are so free that they even have the temerity to exhibit at the Book Fair where the public, naturally, chases them away. So since homosexuals are free to defy God to high heaven as long as they keep their activities out of sight, it was quite amazing that Prime Minister Tsvangirai would think their cause was worth advancing. Worth advancing at the expense of the economic rights of 13 million Zimbabweans reeling from the economic warfare his party condones.
What better platform to seize the bull by the horns than BBC, Albion's public broadcaster that reaches hundreds of millions worldwide? What better setting than Britain, the country that, along with its Western allies, has waged unwarranted economic warfare on us over the past decade and whose 400 plus companies dominate our economy to this day, and whose shareholding is subject to compliance with the indigenisation and economic empowerment drive?
There was no shortage of pressing issues for the PM to discuss on BBC, for instance the outstanding GPA issues like the economic sanctions, western meddling in our internal affairs and the pirate radio broadcasts funded by Britain and its allies. To Tsvangirai all these were not issues.
Sexual perverts deserved attention.
It's tragic but quite funny. It appears something always happens to MDC-T leaders whenever they appear on BBC, they can't help but strive to show what ‘good Africans' they are. ‘Better' Africans than the ‘bad' Mugabe who always speaks his mind and is barred from setting foot in Western territory except on UN business. The Tsvangirais are Malcolm X's house nigger types that are always eager to please the Baas.
I am also reminded of Fidelis Mhashu's BBC appearance where he said the MDC would return land to white former commercial farmers if elected into office.
We should thank the BBC, it gives us the thinking of the MDC leadership.
Many wondered what had motivated Tsvangirai to publicly embrace homosexuality when only last year he had condemned the practice at a function in Chitungwiza.
It did not take long for the cat to leap out of the bag as the man's handler, British premier David Cameron threatened to withhold aid from countries, and ostensibly organisations, that do not embrace gay rights.
In an interview with the BBC, Cameron said: "Britain is now one of the premier aid givers in the world. We want to see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights, and that includes how people treat gay and lesbian people.
"British aid should have more strings attached, in terms of do you persecute people for their faith or their Christianity, or do you persecute people for their sexuality? We don't think that's acceptable," he said.
There it is, our prime minister, who has the unenviable reputation of remembering the advice of his last counsel, probably spoke to Cameron before going on the BBC programme. Be that as it may, Tsvangirai proves - with each passing day - that he is more in tune with western interests than the interests of Zimbabweans; the same Zimbabweans he hopes will vote him into office.
If what Tsvangirai is talking about at his rallies gay rights, jobs, and food is what he has to offer; then President Mugabe may as well rest and just go and vote, because only a fool would choose jobs over equity, food over a farm, gay rights over economic rights.
With a leader like Tsvangirai, the MDC does not need enemies.
Without batting an eyelid, the resourceful politician quipped, ‘‘No problem, we will dig a river for you then build the bridge!''
As with all jokes, this is the punchline that draws the guffaws and slaps on the back of the narrator. We are not told how the crowd received the perspiring politician's answer but its safe to assume that they either ran him out of the constituency like Habakkuk Musengezi's "Honourable MP Pfende", or simply punished him in the ballot box.
Well with next year's elections around the corner, one of the three main political parties, MDC-T is already on the campaign trail. Party leader Morgan Tsvangirai is touring the provinces either in his capacity as Prime Minister or MDC-T leader. He has been to almost all provinces, albeit talking more about President Mugabe's candidature than what he and his party have to offer the electorate.
As he sweats it out in the provinces, Tsvangirai ironically never misses an opportunity to claim that if Zanu-PF fields President Mugabe for the presidential poll, he (Tsvangirai) would not need to campaign but would simply go home and rest as victory will be assured.
‘‘I would leave him to campaign himself hoarse,'' Tsvangirai says. But judging by what Tsvangirai has been saying at his rallies and other public forums, he is better off leaving the campaign trail. He would probably retain votes by resting at home than exposing himself at every rally he holds.
Tsvangirai is proving to be the proverbial emperor who mistakenly thought he was strutting around in new finesse yet he was as naked as the day he entered the world.
Tsvangirai's gaffes prompted one reader to write to NewsDay (October 24, 2011) saying, ‘‘The contradictions of Morgan Tsvangirai's off-the-cuff utterances - especially at rallies - are legendary. The few intelligent and consistent pronouncements he has made were in the speeches prepared for him by his officials. Perhaps these officials should even rehearse his rally speeches with him, just like the American officials did with Ronald Reagan . . .''
A friend of mine, in the Diaspora had this to say on the same subject: ‘‘While Zanu-PF talks about land reform, indigenisation and economic empowerment, inputs support for farmers etc, MDC-T is busy talking about: homosexuality, legalising prostitution, opposing empowerment, reversing land reform, curtailing male libido, nude diplomats etc. And then they turn around & claim elections are rigged!"
Let those with ears hear.
For instance, this past week Tsvangirai was the talk of the town after publicly embracing homosexuality when he appeared on BBC's Newsnight programme where he called for the inclusion of gay rights in the envisaged new constitution.
"It (homosexuality) is a very controversial subject in my part of the world. My attitude is that I hope the constitution will come out with freedom of sexual orientation, for as long as it does not interfere with anybody," he told Newsnight's Gavin Esler.
Our Prime Minister needs to be reminded that a right ceases to be a right once it infringes on the rights of others. Homosexuality is illegal in Zimbabwe since the constitution, just like nature, does not provide for same sex unions. Homosexuals are not being hunted down or killed here as is done in other countries. Neither are lesbians being "treated" through rape as we read has been happening in South Africa.
Sexual deviants are free here. They have their Gays and Lesbians Association of Zimbabwe, whose offices are in Belvedere. They are so free that they even have the temerity to exhibit at the Book Fair where the public, naturally, chases them away. So since homosexuals are free to defy God to high heaven as long as they keep their activities out of sight, it was quite amazing that Prime Minister Tsvangirai would think their cause was worth advancing. Worth advancing at the expense of the economic rights of 13 million Zimbabweans reeling from the economic warfare his party condones.
What better platform to seize the bull by the horns than BBC, Albion's public broadcaster that reaches hundreds of millions worldwide? What better setting than Britain, the country that, along with its Western allies, has waged unwarranted economic warfare on us over the past decade and whose 400 plus companies dominate our economy to this day, and whose shareholding is subject to compliance with the indigenisation and economic empowerment drive?
There was no shortage of pressing issues for the PM to discuss on BBC, for instance the outstanding GPA issues like the economic sanctions, western meddling in our internal affairs and the pirate radio broadcasts funded by Britain and its allies. To Tsvangirai all these were not issues.
Sexual perverts deserved attention.
It's tragic but quite funny. It appears something always happens to MDC-T leaders whenever they appear on BBC, they can't help but strive to show what ‘good Africans' they are. ‘Better' Africans than the ‘bad' Mugabe who always speaks his mind and is barred from setting foot in Western territory except on UN business. The Tsvangirais are Malcolm X's house nigger types that are always eager to please the Baas.
I am also reminded of Fidelis Mhashu's BBC appearance where he said the MDC would return land to white former commercial farmers if elected into office.
We should thank the BBC, it gives us the thinking of the MDC leadership.
Many wondered what had motivated Tsvangirai to publicly embrace homosexuality when only last year he had condemned the practice at a function in Chitungwiza.
It did not take long for the cat to leap out of the bag as the man's handler, British premier David Cameron threatened to withhold aid from countries, and ostensibly organisations, that do not embrace gay rights.
In an interview with the BBC, Cameron said: "Britain is now one of the premier aid givers in the world. We want to see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights, and that includes how people treat gay and lesbian people.
"British aid should have more strings attached, in terms of do you persecute people for their faith or their Christianity, or do you persecute people for their sexuality? We don't think that's acceptable," he said.
There it is, our prime minister, who has the unenviable reputation of remembering the advice of his last counsel, probably spoke to Cameron before going on the BBC programme. Be that as it may, Tsvangirai proves - with each passing day - that he is more in tune with western interests than the interests of Zimbabweans; the same Zimbabweans he hopes will vote him into office.
If what Tsvangirai is talking about at his rallies gay rights, jobs, and food is what he has to offer; then President Mugabe may as well rest and just go and vote, because only a fool would choose jobs over equity, food over a farm, gay rights over economic rights.
With a leader like Tsvangirai, the MDC does not need enemies.
